Exodus 23:32 kjv

Thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor with their gods.

Exodus 23:32 nkjv

You shall make no covenant with them, nor with their gods.

Exodus 23:32 niv

Do not make a covenant with them or with their gods.

Exodus 23:32 esv

You shall make no covenant with them and their gods.

Exodus 23:32 nlt

"Make no treaties with them or their gods.

Exodus 23 verses

Exodus 23 32 Meaning

Exodus 23:32 prohibits the Israelites from establishing any formal agreements, treaties, or alliances with the inhabitants of the land they were about to enter, or with the deities worshipped by these inhabitants. This command was crucial for maintaining the purity of Israel's monotheistic faith and their exclusive covenant relationship with YHWH.

Exodus 23 32 Context

Exodus 23:32 is part of a longer section (Exodus 23:20-33) detailing promises and commands given by YHWH to Israel as they prepared to enter the Promised Land. This section follows the Ten Commandments and the Book of the Covenant, providing specific laws and divine assurance for the conquest. The immediate verses preceding it (Exod 23:23-26) list the nations to be driven out and the blessings of obedience, including victory over enemies, health, and prosperity. Following verse 32, verse 33 states the explicit reason for the prohibition: if they make covenants, the inhabitants will cause Israel to sin against YHWH by worshipping their gods, which would become "a snare" to Israel. The command is a direct instruction for preventing spiritual assimilation and maintaining Israel's distinct identity as YHWH's exclusive people.

Exodus 23 32 Word analysis

• You: A direct singular command to the people of Israel as a collective entity. It emphasizes personal responsibility within the nation for adherence to divine law.
• shall make no: Hebrew: lo' (לֹא), indicating an absolute and unequivocal prohibition. It leaves no room for negotiation or compromise, conveying a strong divine negative command.
• covenant: Hebrew: berith (בְּרִית). This term signifies a solemn, binding agreement or treaty, often sealed with oaths, curses, and blessings, defining a relationship between two parties. In the ancient Near East, such covenants (especially between suzerain and vassal states) frequently involved the invoking of gods. Making a berith with pagan nations would imply legitimacy or respect for their gods, directly contradicting Israel's covenant with YHWH alone.
• with them: Refers to the nations inhabiting Canaan (specifically mentioned in Exod 23:23 as Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hivites, and Jebusites). These groups represented specific idolatrous and immoral practices that YHWH deemed detestable.
• or with their gods: Hebrew: Elohim (אֱלֹהִים), used here to specifically refer to the false deities or idols worshipped by the Canaanite nations (e.g., Baal, Asherah, Molech). This explicitly prohibits not only political alliances but any form of religious compromise or acknowledgement of pagan gods, directly asserting YHWH's exclusive claim on Israel's worship.

Words-group analysis:

• "You shall make no covenant with them": This phrase commands absolute political and social separation. Any formal alliance or deep integration with the surrounding nations was forbidden because it inevitably led to shared customs and eventually shared worship, undermining Israel's unique status as a consecrated nation to YHWH.
• "or with their gods": This phrase makes the spiritual dimension of the prohibition explicit. Even if a political covenant did not outwardly require idolatry, any acknowledgement, reverence, or toleration of pagan deities alongside YHWH was forbidden, ensuring the purity and singularity of Israel's worship. It anticipates and counters the insidious nature of syncretism.

Exodus 23 32 Bonus section

The command in Exodus 23:32 reflects the core of God's desire for His people's holiness and distinction. It is rooted in His own character as a jealous God (Exod 20:5; 34:14), meaning He demands exclusive worship and will not share His glory with idols. The consistent failure of Israel throughout their history to obey this specific command became a recurring theme of sin, bringing foreign oppression and eventual exile. The spirit of this prohibition translates to a timeless principle for believers: maintaining spiritual separation from any worldly system, ideology, or practice that would draw one away from exclusive devotion to God (2 Cor 6:14-17). This does not mean physical isolation, but a refusal to enter into binding agreements or partnerships that compromise one's faith or allegiance to the Lord.

Exodus 23 32 Commentary

Exodus 23:32 serves as a pivotal command at the threshold of Israel's entry into the Promised Land. It directly addresses the primary spiritual danger they would face: assimilation and idolatry through the influence of the Canaanite nations. The prohibition against making a covenant (berith) with "them" (the inhabitants) underscores that true covenant loyalty belongs solely to YHWH. Any attempt to form alliances or relationships with the unholy nations would dilute and ultimately violate Israel's foundational covenant with their God. This would legitimize their abominable practices and gods. The second part, "or with their gods," makes it clear that the ultimate threat was religious compromise. Engaging with pagan deities in any way—through worship, recognition, or toleration—would constitute a profound betrayal of the first commandment (Exod 20:3). This instruction was not merely about political strategy but was an urgent spiritual safeguarding measure to preserve Israel's holiness and their distinct witness in the world. Failing to heed this warning, as recorded throughout Judges and Kings, consistently led to national apostasy and divine judgment.